PMB Won’t Stop Corruption Probe Against Any Ministerial Nominee – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not stop corruption probe against any member of the party, including any of his ministerial nominees, saying the president was a strong believer in the rule of law.

Speaking in an interview with select journalists at the weekend in Abuja, APC deputy national chairman (North), Senator Lawan Shuaibu, said if corruption investigation against any of the nominees lead to conviction in courts, the president will not intervene.

Recall that some former governors, who are being accused of corruption, are among the initial 21 ministerial nominees awaiting confirmation at the National Assembly beginning from tomorrow, Tuesday.

“You see the president has said several times that he believes in the rule of law, that he respects the rule of law. Anything that is not in line with the constitution and the extant laws of this country, he won’t go for it. When it comes to the issue of the choice of people who will serve as ministers in his administration, I believe that until one is convicted in the law court, we will be chasing shadows on the basis of suspicions and assumptions.

“I think quite frankly that he is not going to stop any investigations against any member of his cabinet. But should that investigation lead to conviction in courts, I assure you even before President Buhari ask them to resign, such a person would have brought a letter of resignation. The president cannot intervene in a matter before the court on behalf of anybody including his own child.”

On the allegation that the ongoing anti-corruption fight is selective, Shuaibu retorted, “What did you expect the president to do? President Buhari has made it clear, even during his recent interview in New York, he said he would not be interfering with judicial process or procedures and he will wait to see when a court makes a decision on anyone, that is now when he will respect the decision of the court.”

“And when you are talking about people who have contributed to his emergence as president, I do not expect anybody who contributed to the emergence of President Buhari in the last general election to do so because they wanted cover from corruption prosecution. If anybody thinks that way, I want to say that President Buhari is not thinking that way.”